A fun variation of the Hop Scotch game. All the kids need is some chalk to have some outdoor fun with this Turtle hopping game. "Safe" areas make this an easy game for preschool kids to play while they get some exercise and fresh air.

Kids like to do silly things and most kids like a races. Set up an area of your yard with a start and finish (use a jump rope or other item to show the lines) and give the kids a sppon and egg to carry to the other side or make them have to put on 1 item of clothing on top of their clothes before they run to the other side. Use what you have but make the races fun and silly and watch your kids play over and over again.

This is a really simple-to-make Puppet Theatre. Make it from a large cardboard box or an inexpensive Foam display board from an office supply store. Foldable and guaranteed to provide hours of fun for the kids.

Kids love to make music (ok-sound). So why not make them instruments and let them put on a performance. Use recycled containers w/ lids and add beans, rice or corn kernels and seal tops. Coffee Creamer or Plastic Milk Containers work well. Use a large water jug or other conatiner to make drums by pushing in the top to make it flat. Kids can bang them with their hands or use plastic spoons.

Kids Love Water! Give your kids ice cubes or other frozen shaped cubes and let them play with it on the sidewalk. It melts when it touches the warm ground and they can move it around. Or Give them Paint Brushes & a Small Bucket of Water and watch them paint with water. When it dries they can paint some more. No mess for mom and fun for the kids.

Kids love playing in a sprinkler. Get the kids in their bathing suits and try on a sprinkler for an afternoon of fun. If you want to conserve water or need another water activity- fill up a few spray bottles ($1-4 at stores) with water and let your kids make water paintings or spray each other.

Kids Love the Beach. If you live within a few hours of the beach- Plan a Day at the Beach. If you do not live near a beach head to a nearby Lake. Bring kids sand toys, swimming gear and let them look for shells. Days at the beach make memories we keep forever.

Take your kids to a nearby Zoo to see the animals and enjoy the sights. Zoos have so much to look at and you have so many opportunities to teach your kids about the animals, different habitats and just enjoy the day.

Get Your Family out of the house and into Nature. Forget about the hectic schedules and just go have fun. Nature Walks or Hikes are great- kids get to run around, explore their worlds, watch the wildlife and breathe in some fresh air.

Take your family to a Petting Zoo or Local Farm. Kids love seeing and touching the animals up close and running around. You can also tell your kids what products each animal makes (milk, eggs, and so on). Pack a lunch and make it an adventure.

Go to a Local Farm and Pick Your Own- Strawberries, Blackberries, or other seasonal food. Find a local farm that allows you to go pick the fruit or vegetable you want and charge by the quart or bushel. It is lots of fun for the family and provides an opportunity to teach kids about growing food, and where food comes from.

Cut up different Fruit, Veggies, Cheese, and Bread and let your kids make their own No Cook Kabobs. This is a perfect lunch or snack for kids outside or in. Give them safe bamboo spears, forks or toothpicks. You will have all of your kids eating their veggies and having fun.

Give Kids a few bite sized pizza crusts (dough-uncooked) and put out different fun and heatlhy food options. Let them make fun faces on their personal pizzas. A few topping options are: lowfat cheese, olives, tomatoes, peppers, turkey or chicken. Cook and serve with a salad.

Make a delicious fruit snack or dessert for your kids in less than 5 minutes. No mixing, no cooking and super healthy! These blueberry pies are easy to assemble and serve using whole wheat bread and berries.

Make a healthy and fun snack kids will love. Place healthy cereals, nuts, dried fruits and dark chocolate chips in small bowls and let your kids scoop their favorite mixture into a snack size baggie for a great snack that is easy to take on the go or outback. A great way to encourage a healthy snack and fun at the same time.

Kids Love to Collect Things. Give them a bagf or Bucket and send them outside to find their favorite Rocks or Shells. Kids love to find unusual things. Give them some ideas that will make a great collection. Find rocks you like or find round, smooth rocks or rocks of a similar color or shells you like. When they bring back their finds you can let them proudly display them in their room.

Summer is a time of Fun but it is important to keep kids reading (or learning to read) and using their new skills. If your kids cannot write yet- let them color a picture and tell you a story.Print this "ready to write" page to encourage your child to write a story and draw a fun picture to go with his story. This should be his idea and his color choices... to really encourage creativity.